Great Basin College
ART 106 E01 – Jewelry I
Fall 2009
Instructor: Gail Rappa
Contact Info: 775-756-6569
E-mail: or
Credit hours: 3 credits
Day & Time: Thursday 9-11:45
Location: Art Annex Building
awzw[w]wZwXPurposewvwmwfwdwh
In this class we will work on a series of projects that will cover the basic techniques of jewelry design and construction. Our emphasis will be on developing creative ideas as well as learning techniques such as wire work, sawing, piercing, soldering, stamping, texturing, and forming copper and sterling silver. (Advanced students will be asked to do more.)
At the end of the course each student should be able to:
· Understand & define terms and vocabulary relating to jewelry design and construction /G
· Create designs to meet the requirements of an assignment C/D
· Express & translate his/her feelings into a visual image /D,E,F
· Use creative problem solving within a design /D,E
· Define design terms in their own words /G
· Articulate opinions in relation to designs /B,F
· Know the steps to soldering copper, brass and silver /D,E
· Take a design from idea to completion as a finished piece of jewelry /A,D,E
· Use the internet to access information /F
The above objectives will be measured using a combination of:
A. Keeping an ongoing idea file of design images
B. Take part in group critiques
C. Exhibit work in student show
D. Finishing projects at skill level
E. Participating in Lab
F. Turning in written “field trip” assignments
G. Learning to define design terms in own words
1w1w1w1w1w Idea file 1w1w1w1w1
Each student will start an Idea File; this will be a precious resource for this class and your future projects in all mediums. Some things this file can contain are, your own sketches and doodles, pictures out of magazines, photos of friends or family, inspirational quotes, your favorite poems, etc. The purpose of this file is to collect things that inspire you and remind you of what things that you resonate with. The items in the file need not be jewelry related. If you should feel stuck and unsure of what to make with the new skills and techniques that you will learn in this class, turn to your file and browse. You will be asked to add at least three new items to your idea file each week.
awzw[w]wZwX Materials awzw[w]wZwX
Please bring a sketchbook or loose blank paper and a pencil or pen to draw out ideas. I will put in the orders for class materials. Students may pick out a stone for the bezel setting project from the Rio Grande catalogue. If students wish to order other items not covered by Lab fee I will explain how to set up an account with Rio Grande. Feel free to bring any found objects or special items that you would like to use in your jewelry.
There is not text for the class but if you would like to order one I recommend: Complete Metalsmith, Student Edition (Spiral-bound)
by Tim McCreight It can be purchased for $15 on Amazon.com.
Projects
How the class will work:
The first half of each class I will demonstrate a new technique. The second half students will do a sample of each of the demo, finishing it up in LAB. Students are required to do a sample of each of the assigned techniques. If you miss a class you will also miss a demonstration of a new technique. Please e-mail me before class if you are not going to make it to class or know that you are going to be late so we will not wait for you to begin. Each student is allowed to schedule one makeup demonstration if they have a valid excused absence from a class in which they missed a new technique. It is up to the student to arrange the makeup time with either myself or Mica during lab hours. Makeup demonstrations will not be done during class hours.
Schedule:
Week 1: "Getting to know you...” Each student will share the following with the class:
1)Your Name. 2)What do you do when you are not in jewelry class?, 3)Why did you sign up for jewelry?4) What, if any, is your experience with jewelry and metalsmithing? 5) What do you hope to get out of this class?
Check out toolboxes to each student. Get familiar with the studio and equipment, and go over safety concerns. Go over syllabus.
First project: Wire wrapped bead bracelet with copper wire and glass beads
Week 2: Celtic Pendent- part 1
Piercing and Sawing: positive and negative design
Techniques to be covered:
· Design layout onto metal
· Drilling into metal with a drill press
· Inserting and use of saw blades into a jewelry saw
· Proper use of jewelry files
Week 3: Celtic Pendent-part 2: Riveting
Techniques to be covered:
· Using disc cutter to punch out metal disc
· Riveting pierced out design onto disc
· Oxidizing (antiquing) the metal to accent cut out
· Creating a jump ring to hang the pendent onto a leather cord
Week 4: Carved Band Ring
Techniques to be covered:
· Stamping
· Measuring ring size
· Forming ring stock
· Soldering a butt joint
· Filing and sanding
· Polishing and antiquing
Week 5: Egyptian spiral bracelet-part 1:box bezel
Techniques to be covered:
· Creating a bezel for a cabochon
· Soldering bezel to sheet of metal
· Setting cabochon
Week 6: Egyptian spiral bracelet-part 2: wire spiral chain
Techniques to be covered:
· Creating a chain from formed silver wire
· Fabricating a toggle clasp for the chain
· Joining chain and set stone to finish bracelet
Weeks 7-10:
Box Construction Stone Ring.
Part 1: Creating the ring design
Techniques to be covered:
· Correctly designing & sizing a ring
· Transferring a design from paper to metal
· Piercing and sawing
· Filing: proper use of jewelry files and sanding sticks.
· Polishing: review safety of buffing a ring on polishing machine and flexible shaft
· Soldering: butt, sweat, (overlay),
Part 2: Box Bezel for a Cabochon
Techniques to be covered:
· sizing bezel wire around a stone
· Soldering a bezel
· Setting a cabochon
Weeks 11-15:
Final Project:
Choice of Student- to be discussed with Instructor.
Student must use at least 5 of the techniques covered in the class and must execute a design on paper and submit for approval before project is begun. I will hand out a list of suggested assignments to help stimulate ideas. You may choose one of these to do or come up with one of your own. I would like you to challenge yourself a bit with this last assignment and pick something that stretches you a bit.
Week 16: Last class. Pizza and Group critique. Bring all pieces completed during semester to be photographed. Check in tool boxes.
Semester Assignments
The following two assignments can be done anytime before the last class. I suggest that you spread them out and not leave them to the last minute. You should come to the last class prepared to share your work from both assignments as part of the class critique.
Solo Field Trip: If you have not yet visited the periodical room at the GBC library you are in for a treat! There you can browse at your leisure some of the top art and craft magazines in the world.
· You are to visit the periodical room at least once during the semester. Once there you will locate the 4 magazines listed below and pick one jewelry or metal artist from each that you either liked or didn’t like and write a brief (a paragraph or less) explaining your opinion. Name the magazine, the volume edition and the name of the artist. Be prepared to share what you found in class: Metalsmith, ,American Craft, Art Jewelry
Cyber Space Fieldtrip! A Visit on the Web
You are to log on to http://www.ganoksin.com
You will bring a copy of something that intrigued you from the site; it can be a picture of an artists work, an article, a handy tip you found in the archives, whatever. I want you to spend some time checking out this site to see what is available for jewelers. Be prepared to explain why you chose your selection.
JwKwLwJwKwLwGradingwKwJwLwJwKwL
To receive an "A" you must:
Attend class. Because we will cover a new technique almost every class attendance is essential to you keeping up with the assignments. More than three absences will lower your grade one letter-grade. At five absences you will be withdrawn from the class.
Complete all assigned projects to the best of your skill level:
Participate in discussions of definitions of design terms by the end of the course
Add three entries to your idea file each week
Turn in response to “Solo Field Trip”
Bring in printed pages from “Cyber Space Field Trip”
Be willing to take some risks and challenge yourself to create unique and personal designs.
Return and check in assigned toolbox intact.
Have a good attitude and enjoy yourself! Whining will be detrimental to your grade! J
Classroom and LAB expectations:
· Safety is always first! If you are tired of distracted you are not to be operating power tools. The Lab Tech has the right to refuse access to equipment if safety is at issue.
· Pick up after yourself during class and LAB by keeping your area and the common spaces clean, and by putting tools back where you got them when you are finished.
· The Lab Tech is here to open and maintain the Lab for the allotted time. It is not her job to show you a whole demo that you missed by not coming to class. If you need to make up a missed demo make arrangements with the instructor.
· Only Jewelry students may use the studio and its equipment. Guests are allowed to observe with permission from the lab tech.
Page 7 of 7